20 Spooky Tourist Destinations You Can Actually Visit

When you think of the world's top tourist destinations, chances are the first thing that'll come to mind are places like the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, the Grand Canyon or the Brooklyn bridge. Would you believe that there's actually a type of tourism for people just looking to get spooked?
Talk about taking the fun of a haunted house to the next level. There are hundreds of creepy tourist destinations around the world for people who are fans of fright, from murder locations to haunted hotels and eerie towns. Here are 20 spooky tourist destinations you can actually visit.

Wolfe Creek Crater, Australia

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The Wolfe Creek Crater in the Australian outback is one of the scariest tourist locations down under thanks to movies Wolf Creek and Wolf Creek 2. The first movie follows a trio of backpackers who are captured at Wolf Creek Canyon (deliberately missing the E) and tortured. The movie was based on real-life backpackers Pete Falconio and Joanne Lees who were attacked by a bushman in the Australian outback in 2001, not too far from Wolfe Creek Canyon. Peter was shot dead by the attacker, named Bradley John Murdoch, while Joanne escaped. Now, tourists visit the incredible canyon for more reasons than just spectacular views.

Texarkana, Texas

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The Texarkana Moonlight Murders took place in the spring of 1946 in the small Texas town. The killer, who was given the name "Phantom Killer," attacked eight people over 10 weeks, five of whom were killed. The killings were the inspiration for the 1976 movie The Town That Dreaded Sundown, causing the town to become an infamous tourist spot for fans of the film and horror junkies. Since then, many writers have visited the town in an attempt to find out more about the manic serial killer who was never captured.

Dracula’s Castle, Romania

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Bran Castle in Romania is known across the world as the castle that inspired the Bram Stoker story Dracula about a blood-thirsty vampire who lived in a castle on top of a rock in the Principality of Transylvania. Bran Castle is the only castle in Transylvania that fits Bram's description of Dracula's home, so many people believe that is the location Bram had in mind when describing it. Because of this, hundreds of people flock to the creepy castle in the dark mountains of Transylvania each year hoping to learn more about the old legend and experience some spooks.

LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans

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American Horror Story has made the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans even more famous than it already was. On AHS season three "Coven," the witches visit the house of Delphine LaLaurie, a New Orleans socialite who captured, tortured, and murdered slaves in her massive mansion. The slaves were discovered in LaLaurie's attic after firefighters responded to a call in the building in 1834. LaLaurie managed to escape New Orleans to France with her family, and her cause of death is unknown. Since then, her original mansion was burned down and rebuilt and is now a popular destination on many New Orleans tours.

The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

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The Queen Mary was a luxurious ship built in 1936. When it was first built, the ship transported the wealthiest people across the Atlantic before it was transformed into a troopship during World War II and became known as "The Grey Ghost." Spooky. The ship carried more than 80,000 troops and survived an ocean collision and D-Day, so it has definitely seen its number of deaths. There have been multiple ghost sightings reported on the ship, most notably in the vessel's engine room. For any history buffs out there, you can actually visit and stay on The Queen Mary at its base in Long Beach, California. YouTuber Shane Dawson made an entire video about it that you can watch here.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

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The Stanley Hotel in Colorado is the building that the incredibly successful Stephen King novel and movie The Shining is based off. The property was built in 1909, but it wasn't till 1974 that Stephen and his wife visited. They dropped into the hotel while traveling due to bad weather, but because it was the last day of the season, they were the only guests besides the small number of staff. Stephen claims to have had an eerie experience in room 217 of the hotel, including having nightmares about his son, which all lead to the creation of The Shining. The hotel is now a spot on multiple ghost tours and you can even stay overnight in room 217.

The Tower of London, England

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The Tower of London was built in 1078 and is a vital landmark in the history of England. It has been home to hundreds of royals in its time, and it's also one of the most haunted places in the UK *allegedly*. Anne Boleyn was beheaded in the castle for committing treason against Henry VIII and her ghost is said to haunt the grounds where she is buried. There have been other ghost sightings reported in the historical landmark, including two young boys and a grizzly bear. You can check the location out for yourself by booking a tour of the castle here.

Kehoe House, Savannah, Georgia

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The Kehoe House was built in Savannah in 1892 for the Kehoe family. The family lived in the lavish home for a number of years after it was built, and it is known that some of their children died there. What goes along with dead children? Creepy ghosts. One of the creepiest stories from the home reports that two of the Kehoe children climbed up the massive chimney in the home, got stuck and died. Although the story has never been confirmed, lots of people who have stayed in the residence, which is now a B&B, have reported sights of dead children in the halls and bedrooms.

The Amityville Horror House, Long Island

The Amityville House in Long Island is known as one of the most haunted houses around, having spawned multiple book and movie adaptations. The house was home to the DeFeo family, who were brutally murdered by the eldest son, Ronald DeFeo, in their sleep. When in court, Ronald's defense was that the "voices in his head" told him to murder his family. The family who moved in after the horrific events fled from the home soon after because they experienced paranormal activity. The Amityville Horror story has been told multiple times in pop culture, including in a film featuring Ryan Reynolds.

The Ambassador Hotel, Milwaukee

The Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee is the location in which notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer murdered his first victim, a 25-year-old man he picked up at a bar. Although Jeffrey claimed he couldn't remember killing the man, he said he woke up to find him dead underneath him with his chest "crushed in." Jeffrey then purchased a large suitcase to remove the body from the hotel unnoticed. The room Jeffrey stayed in, room 507, is highly sought after by horror-loving tourists visiting the city where the serial killer grew up.

The Enfield Haunting House, England

The story of the Enfield poltergeist originated in a council house in Brimdown, England between 1977 and 1979. The claims of a ghost terrorizing the home of Peggy Hodgson came about when her youngest daughter Janet alleged that she was being possessed by a demon. The story was widely covered by British media, leaving many people skeptical about whether it was a ploy acted up for the cameras. The story was the inspiration for The Conjuring 2 movie, and the small house is still standing today for fans to visit.

Lake Herman Road, California

The Lake Herman Road murders were the first murders confirmed to have been committed by the Californian Zodiac killer. On December 20th 1968, teenagers David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen drove their car out to a lovers' lane located at Lake Herman Road, at the line of Benicia and Vallejo in California. Their bodies were found on the ground surrounding the car at around 11:00pm that night having been gunned down by an unknown killer. The person who murdered the couple has never been caught, but Zodiac fanatics from all over still visit the cryptic scene to this day.

Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles

The Cecil Hotel, located in the busy area of downtown LA, is one of the most ~haunted~ hotels ever. At least 16 different people have died there from murder, suicide, and also unexplained causes. Since the hotel opened in 1924, a 19-year-old woman threw her newborn baby out the window, a man was killed by a woman who had jumped to her death while walking outside the premises, and a young woman was found dead in the hotel's water tank — to name just a few deaths. The hotel was the inspiration for American Horror Story: Hotel and is still open to the public today.

Sharon Tate’s House, Los Angeles

On August 8th 1969, Hollywood actress Sharon Tate was brutally murdered in her home by the Manson family two weeks before she was due to give birth. Sharon was murdered along with her three friends in her home at Cielo Drive, Los Angeles, which is now a popular location on the Helter Skelter Charles Manson tour in LA. Although the original house where Sharon was murdered was demolished, a new house was built on the site and can be visited from the outside by fans of the actress. However, vistors can't enter the property which is now home to new owners.

The Island of the Dolls, Mexico

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The Island of the Dolls is an Island in Mexico that is exactly what it sounds like, an island filled with thousands of creepy old dolls. The dolls were originally hung on trees on the island by the owner, Julián Santana Barrera, who believed that they would help ward off evil spirits after a young girl drowned there years previously. Disturbingly, Julián also drowned in the same location in 2001. His body was reportedly found in the exact same spot as the girl he claimed to find years earlier. It's a big NOPE from us, but lots of tourists still like to visit the island which is accessible by boat.

The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

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The Winchester Mystery House in California is said to have inspired the terrifying Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House. The massive mansion was home to Sarah Winchester, who was suddenly widowed after the death of her husband and child. Sarah became obsessed with the idea that the men who died at the hand of Winchester rifles were out to get her and built trap doors and secret passageways in the house that she believed would lead the spirits out. The house looks beautiful from the outside, but inside is full of tricky additions that would confuse anyone, nevermind a spirit.

The Villisca Ax Murder House, Villisca, Iowa

The Villisca Ax Murder House in Iowa remains one of the most haunted locations in America since the tragedy that struck the Moore family there in 1912. On June 10th of that year, the six members of the Moore family and their two guests were brutally murdered in their home in Villisca by wounds caused by an ax. The culprit was never found and the mystery of the house remains unsolved. People intrigued by the story can do day time or creepy overnight tours of the old house in Iowa by booking through this website. Halloween party anyone?

The Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts

Lizzie Borden was the main suspect in the case of the father and step mother who were brutally murdered by ax in 1892. The woman was tried for the murder of her parents, but was acquitted and set free after being found not guilty. Lizzie decided to remain living in the Massachusetts town that the murder took place in, despite being shunned by her neighbors and peers. The crime was never solved and the house where the murders took place is still there today and can be toured by horror enthusiasts who visit the town.

John D. Long Lake, South Carolina

The South Carolina John D. Long Lake is the site of multiple disturbing deaths from 1994 onwards. In 1994, Susan Smith strapped her two children to their car seats and drove her car into the lake where they drowned. Just two years later, a car containing five people rolled down an ebankment by the lake. The five people in the car drowned, as did two others attempting to save them. Today, people of the town insist that the lake is haunted and that the sounds of children laughing and a baby crying can be heard in the area.

Salem, Massachusetts

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Salem is the famous town in Massachusetts where a series of witch trials took place between 1692 and 1693. During that time, more than 200 people were accused of witch craft and 19 were killed by hanging. The town is a very popular tourist destination, with thousands of people visiting each year to learn the town's history and see the site where the executions took place. The trials have been referenced in popular culture multiple times, including in kids TV shows and also terrifying horror movies.